CITES Conference of the Parties 17 Debriefing: The Results of CoP17

From 26 September through 4 October of 2016 more than 3,500 people attended the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which convened in Johannesburg, South Africa. Meeting only once every three years, CoP17 opened with addresses from South African President Jacob Zuma and their Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa.

Topics of discussion and resolution related to wildlife crime; corruption; cybercrime; legalization of ivory trade; legalization of a rhino horn trade; captive breeding; targeted enforcement measures relating to illegal trade of wildlife and marine species; laundering of wild-caught species into legal trade markets; traceability; local communities’ representation in wildlife management; and youth involvement in CITES. The first-ever wildlife crime partnerships forum was also hosted at CoP17, with international agencies discussing how best to fight the illegal wildlife trade. The second global meeting of Wildlife Enforcement Networks also convened to discuss ways that regional groups can maintain their CITES obligations and improve their effectiveness in combating illegal trafficking through existing tools and law enforcement agencies. Summarizing the proceedings of CoP17, Executive Director of TRAFFIC Steven Broad said that “There was significant progress on issues relating to captive breeding, synthetic products, demand reduction, traceability, cybercrime and even corruption, as well as the higher profile species.”